Minimal local employment gains expected in new year: survey

Ottawa employers planning on trimming their workforce in the first quarter of 2013 slightly outnumber those expanding, according to a survey released Tuesday.

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Human resources and staffing firm Manpower said one in 10 employers expected to be in hiring mode between January and March, compared to 12 per cent that were anticipating cutbacks. The remainder intended to maintain present staffing levels.

When seasonal variations are removed, the picture improves slightly.

On a net basis, six per cent of local employers plan to expand their headcount. That’s up from one per cent during the last quarterly survey, but down from 11 per cent a year earlier.

The sample size of the local study was not released. Nationally, a survey of more than 1,900 Canadian employers found 13 per cent intended to expand their workforce, while seven per cent were planning to cut back.